The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-10-21
The SHAKING Island.
New Orleans Times Democrat.
We wera in the heart Of Okefinokee

We were in the heart of 0keinokee
swamp. There were FIVE inthe party
three young men besides myself and
Sam. our negro cook and factotum.
When we started out on our hunt
ing expedition it was our intention to
vt along the edge OF the swamp
.,Chout attempting to penetrate the
interior. The excitement OF the chase
and the novelty Of our surroundings
gradually led into the swamp. For
two days we had observed q light
curling smoke some miles ahead OF US
and we finally agreed to push on and
investigate it. II have seen the same
thing in one Of the big Florida
swamps," said Dupont, one OF our
party, land it is believed down there
that the smoke mt from an inter
nal fire underground"
As our way was through morasses,
quicksands, stagnant pools, and
tangled underground, our progress
was slow. We had to keep a sharp
lookout for snakes and alligators,
and altogether our work of explora-
ton was exceedingly difficult, and
somewhat hazardous.
at is an Island!' shouted Dupont.
We had reached the spot at last. In
( the middle of a lake, whose black wa
tiers were ripping in acurious fashion,
was an island Of perhaps 200 acres,
covered with scrubby bushes. All
over the island thin columns ofbrown
smoke could be seen slowly rising.
81 don't understand what Keeps the
water disturbed" said one ofthe men;
there is no breeze"
"Hit am de debbils ownpot," said
black Sam, looking wild-eyed and nerv-
Gus.
We quieted Sam, and put him to
work with the others constructing a
rude raft out of the dead trees which
were lying around in abundance. In
a short time the raft was ready, and
we padded ourselves to the island.
at shakes" exclaimed Dupont,
who WINS the first to land.
Sam was the next one on shore, but
he at once stepped back on the raft.
de Lawd hab mussy!" he said, II
KANT stan dat"
We all followed Dupont and found
that the island was trembling quite
perceptibly.
Perhaps it is a floating island"
suggested one OF my companions.
ut is nothing of the kind" l re-
marked. II have heard of it before,
but we are doubtless the first white
men who have landed here in forty
years"
"What do you know about it?"
asked Dupont, quickly.
"Simply this. When Sir Charles
Lyell, the famous British geologist,
visited this country, he explored the
swamp and examined this very
spot. He found it shaking all the
time, with assures in the earth con.
~stantly opening and closing, with this
same peculiar smoke rising from them,
He came to the conclusion that
the crust of che earth was
thinner right here than in any
other locality of the globe. The vol
canic action near the surface causes
the smoke, and also the continual
bubbling of the lake. This may have
been going on for centuries. YOU
know that the Indian word Okefino
kee means trembling earth"
"Well, / can't say that care tc
camp here" said Dupont, shut as We
are here, we are here, we might as wei
explore q little.
This was the general opinion, an6
Sam was persuaded to leave his quar-
tiers on the RAFT and trust himself to
the unstable land.
~ have found a geyser," reported
one of our explorers, who had beer
rambling about on his own hook.
Guided by him we weno to & little
spring of boiling water that was gush-
ing forth near the centre of the island
With the water came jets of steam
sand and bluemud. At this place thu
shaking was so violent that it made III
stagger, and we would hear under oul
feet a mutled roar or rumble.
"Marse Ross" gasped Sam, II mus
git outer heah."
He made q run toward the raft
when a small fissure in the eartl
about a foot wide yawned in front D
him. The poor fellow dropped on tn,
ground In speechless terror. w,
helped him up and tried to reassur,
him, but it was no use. AS soon al
be was calm enough to walk he mad,
q break for the raft.
"Sam is the only sensible fellow ii
the party" said Dupont. "There il
danger Of breaking a leg IN one o
thesie ssures, and1 don't see why
man could not be swallowed up
Ilaughed at this. Sir Charles Lyel
had spoken OF the island as q remark
able curiosity, but he had not predict
ed any serious outbreak of the force
of nature.
ssEes that" continued Dupont.
i looked. The fsshre which ha,
frightened Sam had closed up com
pletely. I drew a long breath. Inth
midst OF sneh phenomena a man feel
small. Before | could say anythln
) thara waa q d~aafanino roar q tho,ac